Diamond Dirt: Roger Maris-like players impacting teams

Friday

Sep 30, 2011 at 12:01 AMSep 30, 2011 at 4:40 AM

The Yankees in no way could have won five consecutive pennants without Roger Maris, and the dominant late-’60s Cardinals probably wouldn’t have had much to celebrate without Maris in the lineup. And the great thing about baseball is that those particular Maris-like players are still around today.

Dominic Genetti

Roger Maris was the kind of player that not only stood out on the teams he played for, but he also played a huge role in teams achieving their winning ways.

That’s why if you take Maris off of those championship Yankee teams between 1960 and 1964 and the 1967 and ’68 Cardinals, the outcome in the World Series would have been very, very different.

The Yankees in no way could have won five consecutive pennants without Maris, and the dominant late-’60s Cardinals probably wouldn’t have had much to celebrate without Maris in the lineup.

And the great thing about baseball is that those particular Maris-like players are still around today.

Lance Berkman

Earlier this season, in the inaugural Diamond Dirt column as a matter of fact, I compared Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman to Maris’ days in St. Louis. And not to brag, but it came out to be true. It came out to be that the St. Louis Cardinals would not have been able to have the 2011 season that they’ve had without him in the lineup. Without Berkman, the Cardinals wouldn’t have had that extra oomph to get the to game 162 and win the NL Wild Card. The Houston Astros thought he was all washed up, but that wasn’t’ the case. Lance had something to prove this year — that he could still play and impact his team, and show the Houston Astros that he’s no where near being done. He did both.

Berkman had a lot of key hits and plays that allowed the Cardinals to succeed this year and he should very seriously be considered for the NL MVP Award, but his age and the Dodgers’ Jeff Kent having a very stellar season, may not go in the Big Puma’s favor.

Michael Young

Another player we’ll see this postseason is Michael Young of the Texas Rangers. He’s pretty much an infield version of Maris.

There’s nothing that Michael Young can’t do on the dirt of the diamond. If I was his manager, I’d have him as an emergency catcher — he’s that good to have. Every game, Young plays hard. He runs as fast as his legs allow him, he fields with ease and perfection. He waits for the right pitch to smack at and a good amount of the time it gets him on base. Young could be a power hitter if he wanted, but I don’t think that profile fits him too well. He’s a great home run hitter, but when you get a guy of his stature hitting just to contribute, you’ve got yourself a very important player to have on your team.

This season started off a little rough for Young since he wasn’t going to be used in the field every day, and just be at the very least the everyday designated hitter. He demanded a trade, he got tired of switching positions every other year and was fed up. It almost looked like he was headed to Denver to play for the Colorado Rockies, but it never happened. Young stayed in Texas and for the first time since 1999, the Rangers are headed to a consecutive postseason appearance.

Again, without Young, the Rangers wouldn’t be there. His bat and play are a vital part of Texas’ push to another AL pennant, and maybe this year, a World Series championship. My St. Louis Cardinals have to be eliminated from the playoffs before I give full support to the Rangers — who for the 2010 season were my “home” team.

In all actuality, if the Rockies got Michael Young this year, that may have been quite a race to watch in NL West. Young would have added a lot more hits and stellar defense to the Colorado lineup which would have let them compete head to head with Arizona and San Francisco. Meanwhile, Texas would have had some popular names — Nolan Ryan’s ownership group has done a great job luring players to Arlington — but minus Young, they wouldn’t be much to talk about.

Ryan Braun

The final Maris-like player who certainly impacts his team is none other than Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers.

If I had to pick one guy that did everything 100 percent on the baseball diamond from preparation to shoe tying, to hitting to playing, it’s him. When you face Ryan Braun, you know it’s going to be a battle. It doesn’t matter if you hit the ball his way in the outfield or have to face him at the plate and on the base paths, Braun is going to put up a great fight. When he hits, when he runs, when he slides, when he throws, Braun does it all with every amount of energy in his body.

Milwaukee might have Prince Fielder and a stellar pitching staff, but unless you have that Maris-like guy to pack in some oomph to your lineup, you’re not going to get anywhere. Take Braun out of the Brewers lineup and St. Louis could have taken the division championship. Heck, Milwaukee may not have even been able to compete as well as they did minus his bat. The Brewers are going to be a tough team to battle with in this 2011 postseason and Braun is a big reason why.

I suppose the only thing left to wonder is which Maris-like player will be the one to succeed this postseason? Who will be the guy that supplies that extra oomph be the one who has a big postseason?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

Dominic Genetti writes for the Hannibal Courier-Post.

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